Flowers are actually greenish, but are concealed by brightly
colored bracts that are mistaken for flowers - Blooms May to September
Eastern Oregon to Central Wyoming and south to New Mexico and S California
There is a Native Amercian legend about this flower that tells
about a brave who was trying to paint a sunset and asked the Great Spirit
for help. He was given paintbrushes dripping with bright colors.
When placed on the ground after he was finished, the paintbrushes turned
into flowers... hence their name.